Intel has reportedly ramped up its acquisition of High-NA equipment from the Dutch chipmaker ASML, intending to 'give in all' for its 14A process.
Intel Now Purchases Two Units of ASML's High-NA Equipment, Focusing On Next-Gen Nodes
For those unaware, ASML's High-NA equipment is known to be the 'holy grail' of the chip market, not just because of its enormous price but also because of the quality of the lithography. Now, in an analysis by Jerry Capital on X, it is disclosed that Intel has plans to acquire two High-NA EUV machines from ASML, which is an increase from a single unit, which means that Team Blue is set to ramp up chipmaking expenditure for upcoming processes.
We know that Intel's 14A will feature high-NA lithography. It will be a massive release for the foundry division, considering that the future relies on the process's outcome. Team Blue has clearly stated that if their 14A node doesn't manage to witness significant customer adoption, the firm will drop the race for high-end nodes, which is why 14A is a 'do-or-die' moment for the IFS. Until now, ASML's High-NA EUV equipment has been adopted by the likes of TSMC, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Intel, and it is intended for next-gen products.
It is claimed that a single unit of ASML's machinery costs around $370 million, and Intel is likely to spend $1 billion to $2 billion on lithography equipment alone. In a previous report, we discussed how ASML will be shipping a significant chunk of its High-NA EUV to Team Blue alone, which means that Intel will likely be one of the dominant adopters regarding High-NA adoption. With Intel eying 14A a phenomenal release, the foundry CapEX around the process will grow much higher.
It would be interesting to see whether Intel manages to nail processes like 18A and 14A since the firm is dependent on these nodes to sustain the foundry division and American chipmaking ambitions.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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